Editor's note: CNN's Soledad O'Brien chronicles the dramatic fight over the construction of a mosque in the heart of the Bible Belt in "Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door," Video airing at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 2.

When Sen. Richard Durbin called a hearing on anti-Muslim bigotry, his office insisted it was not a response to a controversial House hearing that recently examined the threat of home-grown terrorism.

"Terrorism is not the subject of today's hearing," Durbin, D-Illinois, said in his opening remarks.

But two Senate Republicans said they couldn't discuss the Muslim-American community without looking at its potential for radicalization. Earlier this month, Rep. Peter King, R-New York, prompted a flurry of controversy and media attention by tackling "the radicalization of American Muslims" in a separate hearing.

soundoff(81 Responses)

Muneef

Thus, Islam bases people's relational conduct on kindness. Hence, it condemns intolerance, prejudice and bigotry, and rejects discrimination based on color, creed, national origin or religion.
The Muslim acceptance applies to all elements of life and must reflect in all of the Muslim's affairs. The teaching of Islam towards proper behavior, anger control, patience, treatment of spouse, parent, neighbor, the young and the old, the friend, the enemy, the environment and specifically the People of the Book are evident in the Holy Qur'an and the life and example of the Prophet Muhammad (p).
In calling people to the Islamic Faith, for example, a Muslim must be wise, sensitive, humble and considerate. The Qur'an teaches:
"Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and discuss with them in ways that are best and most gracious." Qur'an, 16:25.

http://www.islamic-study.org/islam_denounces_violence.htm

March 31, 2011 at 6:42 pm |

Muneef

Any one here speaks German and can tell us what the Lady on the news desk saying ??

The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:
( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)

Are you ready?

Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.

Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.

Analogous steps are available for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism at your request.

"Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA): Islamic Circle of North America is a grass roots organization seeking to obtain the pleasure of Allah through working for the establishment of Islam in all parts of life. ICNA has many projects, programs, and activities designed to help molding of the individual and reforming society at large. Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)"

Again, by their own statement, they are "working for the establishment of Islam in all parts of life" and "molding individuals and reforming society at large."

Sounds subversive to me. Good for the protesters. They are patriots.

March 31, 2011 at 6:53 pm |

BG

More on the ICNA

From "The vanguard of the Islamic revolution: the Jamaʻat-i Islami of Pakistan, by Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr, pg. 78

BG – of course ICNA is going to be centered around islam; just as any church group is going to be centered around Christianity. However, the main point being that other than the fact that they are Muslims, the point of the meeting was to improve woman's homeless shelters in the area. And you can never justify hate speech directed towards children. Calling them terrorists just shows the rampant ignorance and the true levels these protesters will go to to spread hate towards the Muslim communities in America.

April 1, 2011 at 7:00 pm |

14401

The one good thing about all religions is that you are free to leave the United States at any time and choose another country that suits your needs best. Now, anyone with a complaint about religion of any kind should be packing up and removing themselves from the United States starting today.

March 30, 2011 at 9:54 am |

Henry Thomasson

That doesn't make the slightest bit of sense.

March 30, 2011 at 10:18 am |

Mr. Sniffles

Makes perfect sense to me. All people, especially religious ones, will eventually have some kind of complaint about some religion. Therefore, everyone should pack up and leave, including 14401, who complained about religion in his post.

14401 must be a radical environmentalist, as he wants America totally depopulated.

March 30, 2011 at 10:48 am |

Muneef

Mr.Sniffles.

I do agree with you and respect your views of justice but just wonder about to who still do harm to your nation although non religious or as an individual...?? Shouldn't those as well be leaving in order for you to have a sensible and peaceful life with out harm and hate....?
You know your post wad like a good poet to me but missed that part to be complete ...thanks

March 30, 2011 at 10:05 pm |

Frederica

America belongs to Christians. Everyone else is a guest they have to take care of. Jesus will return before Americans repeat the stupidity of the ancient Israel.

March 30, 2011 at 10:06 pm |

Reality

And the terror and horror of koranic/mosque/imam-driven acts continue:

"Shariatpur, Bangladesh (CNN- 3/30/2011) - Hena Akhter's last words to her mother proclaimed her innocence. But it was too late to save the 14-year-old girl.

Her fellow villagers in Bangladesh's Shariatpur district had already passed harsh judgment on her. Guilty, they said, of having an affair with a married man. The imam from the local mosque ordered the fatwa, or religious ruling, and the punishment: 101 lashes delivered swiftly, deliberately in public.

Hena dropped after 70.

Bloodied and bruised, she was taken to hospital, where she died a week later.

Amazingly, an initial autopsy report cited no injuries and deemed her death a suicide. Hena's family insisted her body be exhumed. They wanted the world to know what really happened to their daughter."

March 30, 2011 at 8:05 am |

Jason the Pendalton Rat

Hey dude, I enjoy your postings. Some may find ALL your details a bit annoying, but in an age of sound bites, you do have more of the big pictuire than anyone, it seems to me, and there is no simplistic way to get that without all the facts. Don't quit. 🙂

March 30, 2011 at 9:20 am |

You are a bore

Cut-and-paste is a crutch for people who are incapable of thinking for themselves.

March 30, 2011 at 10:11 am |

Reality

Dear You are Bore,

Some thoughts:

Jesus was a bit "touched" (As was Mohammed and his friend Gabriel). After all he thought he spoke to Satan, thought he changed water into wine, thought he raised Lazarus from the dead etc. In today's world, said Jesus (and Mohammed and this judge?) would be declared legally insane.

Or did P, M, M, L and J simply make him into a first century magic-man via their epistles and gospels of semi-fiction? Most contemporary NT experts after thorough analyses of all the scriptures go with the latter magic-man conclusion with J's gospels being mostly fiction.

Obviously, today's followers of Paul et al's "magic-man" to include this ex-judge are also a bit on the odd side believing in all the Christian mumbo jumbo about bodies resurrecting, and exorcisms, and miracles, and "magic-man atonement, and infallible, old, European, white men, and 24/7 body/blood sacrifices followed by consumption of said sacrifices.

March 30, 2011 at 11:41 am |

You are a bore

When did you have that thought? 1998? Were you really unable to have any more thoughts since then, and so you can only cut-and-paste one of those rare occasions that you had a thought?

March 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm |

Muneef

Yep. It is the choice here you are to made just as the choice God gave to mankind;
Either to be disbeliever agnostic or believer faithful .... Either Black or White there is no place for Hypocrite Gray....

Two examples relyed here by posters out of which you choice has to be made just as clearly what choice "Jason the Rat" has made which clearly indicates that he could be either Black or Gray....Only God known what's in his heart and it is only he God the judge of that....

March 30, 2011 at 9:44 pm |

Muneef

Al-Anaam sura 06:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
And though We should send down the angels unto them, and the dead should speak unto them, and We should gather against them all things in array, they would not believe unless Allah so willed. Howbeit, most of them are ignorant. (111) Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary – devils of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile. If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their devising; (112) That the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter may incline thereto, and that they may take pleasure therein, and that they may earn what they are earning. (113) Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers. (114) Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower. (115) If thou obeyedst most of those on earth they would mislead thee far from Allah's way. They follow naught but an opinion, and they do but guess. (116) Lo! thy Lord, He knoweth best who erreth from His way; and He knoweth best (who are) the rightly guided. (117).

Al-Rad sura 13:
Those who believe and do right: Joy is for them, and bliss (their) journey's end. (29) Thus We send thee (O Muhammad) unto a nation, before whom other nations have passed away, that thou mayst recite unto them that which We have inspired in thee, while they are disbelievers in the Beneficent. Say: He is my Lord; there is no God save Him. In Him do I put my trust and unto Him is my recourse. (30) Had it been possible for a Lecture to cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the dead to speak, (this Qur'an would have done so). Nay, but Allah's is the whole command. Do not those who believe know that, had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve, disaster ceaseth not to strike them because of what they do, or it dwelleth near their home until the threat of Allah come to pass. Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst. (31).

Al-Naml sura 27:
Lo! this Qur'an narrateth unto the Children of Israel most of that concerning which they differ. (76) And lo! it is a guidance and a mercy for believers. (77) Lo! thy Lord will judge between them of His wisdom, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (78) Therefor (O Muhammad) put thy trust in Allah, for thou (standest) on the plain Truth. (79) Lo! thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call when they have turned to flee; (80) Nor canst thou lead the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none to hear, save those who believe Our revelations and who have surrendered. (81).

Fussilat sura 41:
Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better, or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what ye will. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do. (40) Lo! those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it cometh unto them (are guilty), for lo! it is an unassailable Scripture. (41) Falsehood cannot come at it from before it or behind it. (It is) a revelation from the Wise, the Owner of Praise. (42) Naught is said unto thee (Muhammad) save what was said unto the messengers before thee. Lo! thy Lord is owner of forgiveness, and owner (also) of dire punishment. (43) And if We had appointed it a Lecture in a foreign tongue they would assuredly have said: If only its verses were expounded (so that we might understand)? What! A foreign tongue and an Arab? – Say unto them (O Muhammad): For those who believe it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those who disbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. Such are called to from afar. (44).

March 30, 2011 at 6:35 am |

The Bobinator

Assertions without evidence are generally considered to be fruitless.

March 30, 2011 at 8:47 am |

Jason the Pendalton Rat

Bla, bla, bla,.......... bla, bla, bla.

March 30, 2011 at 9:13 am |

You are a bore

And for those incapable of thinking, there is cut-and-paste.

March 30, 2011 at 10:10 am |

Muneef

The Bobnator.

Never though Wisdom needed evidence,never thought speaking my mind would be better than wards speaking what is or has to be in my mind ....never thought relying the message of God the creator of creations inspired to his messengers and written in to scriptures for all mankind reminding,warning,guiding from examples and stories of old ancient generations are not sufficient for your understanding as to what is in my mind and heart as well as to majority of Muslims and People of the Holy Books...
Such examples of wisdom can be felt from reading with deep understanding of words and what it contains ;

Al-Qasas sura 28:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
It is true thou wilt not be able to guide everyone whom thou lovest: but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance. (56).

Al-Qasas sura 28:
And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for its means of livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them save a little. And We, even We, were the inheritors. (58) And never did thy Lord destroy the townships, till He had raised up in their mother(-town) a messenger reciting unto them Our revelations. And never did We destroy the townships unless the folk thereof were evil-doers. (59) And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the world and an ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting. Have ye then no sense? (60).

Al-Qasas
As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for those who ward off (evil). (83) Whoso bringeth a good deed, he will have better than the same; while as for him who bringeth an ill-deed, those who do ill-deeds will be requited only what they did. (84) Lo! He Who hath given thee the Qur'an for a law will surely bring thee home again. Say: My Lord is best aware of him who bringeth guidance and him who is in error manifest. (85) Thou hadst no hope that the Scripture would be inspired in thee; but it is a mercy from thy Lord, so never be a helper to the disbelievers. (86) And let them not divert thee from the revelations of Allah after they have been sent down unto thee; but call (mankind) unto thy Lord, and be not of those who ascribe partners (unto Him). (87) And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back. (88).

March 30, 2011 at 9:31 pm |

Freepeople

Freewill and freedom include the right to believe in god, Allah or not. Many so called atheists jump at any opportunity to try to discredit religious belief – by using the new religion – science. Christianity can be just as violent = forget ww2? Or let me guess school didn’t bother teaching you crap about the world you live in and most American know nothing but BS. Most unbelievers seek some kind of affirmation of their own narrow beliefs by criticizing those that do believe. Nice way to honor freedom =scientific Taliban. Many scientists today are like lawyers = pay them enough money and they will believe pigs can fly, pay a little more and they will work real hard to convince you of flying pigs. Oh @ reality – America had big problems before the twin towers – or let me guess you didn’t know it – because cnn was not reporting it. Believer or not ignorance like freedom has no borders.

March 30, 2011 at 6:15 am |

Reality

FreePeople,

The Twenty (or so) Worst Things People Have Done to Each Other:

http://necrometrics.com/warstatz.htm#u (a reference worth reading)

An excerpt:

"The Muslim Conquest of India

"The likely death toll is somewhere between 2 million and 80 million. The geometric mean of those two limits is 12.7 million. "

Rank <<<Death Toll <Cause <<Centuries<<<Religions/Groups involved*

1. 63 million Second World War 20C (Christians et al and Communists vs. Christians et al, Nazi-Pagan and "Shintoists")

*:" Is religion responsible for more violent deaths than any other cause?

A: No, of course not – unless you define religion so broadly as to be meaningless. Just take the four deadliest events of the 20th Century – Two World Wars, Red China and the Soviet Union – no religious motivation there, unless you consider every belief system to be a religion."

Q: So, what you're saying is that religion has never killed anyone.

A: Arrgh... You all-or-nothing people drive me crazy. There are many doc-umented examples where members of one religion try to exterminate the members of another religion. Causation is always complex, but if the only difference between two warring groups is religion, then that certainly sounds like a religious conflict to me. Is it the number one cause of mass homicide in human history? No. Of the 22 worst episodes of mass killing, maybe four were primarily religious. Is that a lot? Well, it's more than the number of wars fought over soccer, or s-ex (The Trojan and Sabine Wars don't even make the list.), but less than the number fought over land, money, glory or prestige.

In my Index, I list 41 religious conflicts compared with 27 oppressions under "Communism", 24 under Colonialism, 2 under "Railroads" and 2 under "Scapegoats". Make of that what you will."

Don't let them subjugate us and our freedom to that repressive, religious, political, militaristic system know as Islam.

Never give up your freedoms to a system like that.

March 30, 2011 at 5:43 am |

Frederica

Time and distance do not matter in true love. Christian America will be loved from distance always and forever, because American missionaries' and American soldiers' sacrifices will never to be forgotten.

March 29, 2011 at 11:41 pm |

Doc Vestibule

@Frederica
Even the non-christian soldiers?

March 30, 2011 at 8:39 am |

Frederica

Doc, 80% Americans claim to be Christian today. It was higher when USA rescued Europe, Asia, and Africa.

March 30, 2011 at 10:39 pm |

Frederica

@Bah: I'd LOVE to live in USA!!! A million dollar-dream for 3 billion human beings. But I don't want to face religious persecution from Americans. It'll be too ridiculous. And I never even touch any human being with filthy vocab. Clean up your language, child. Your secular education is a total broke.

March 29, 2011 at 11:31 pm |

Concerned American

When you say freedom, what do you mean? My basic religious freedom is jeopardy. My existence as human being, American in question? You should address your comments to the hate group; is no different what colonial did to native Indians and Blacks or what Hitler did to Jewish. We are only 2011 and people are not researching the truth and justice for all.

March 30, 2011 at 12:32 am |

Mr. Sniffles

So you have never been to America? That certainly explains your massively warped ideas about it. That and your schitzoid paranoia.

March 30, 2011 at 12:48 am |

Frederica

@C-A-, all those people you mentioned were rescued by Christians with Christian principles.
@M-Sniffles, I did live in USA before, though it's long time ago, like, before you were born. So I know America better than you do. I got warped ideas on America by reading CNN comments such as yours. What went so wrong?

March 30, 2011 at 12:56 am |

Concerned American

Blame radical talk shows and Fox News who brain washed a lot of you, intolerant idiots. I am an American Muslim, i will die for this country; not asking you permission how i live my life and worship my ALLAH. Most of you do comment things that you don't have knowledge, let Glen Beck breach you how to hate.

March 29, 2011 at 10:17 pm |

Frederica

@C-A-, willing to die for America is never good enough for being American. You must be willing to use your brain and consume yourself in order to bring human rights, freedom of conscience and justice to the entire world. No pretention.

March 29, 2011 at 11:26 pm |

Frederica

What about anti-Christian, anti-Church bigotry? America is full of it.

March 29, 2011 at 10:12 pm |

Bah

What do you know? You don't even live here. When are you gonna come over here and kiss my ass? I don't have all day...!

March 29, 2011 at 10:20 pm |

navykurt

thank god for the second amendment.

March 29, 2011 at 8:55 pm |

Bethe123

What bigotry?

If Islam has serious problems, and people object to it, that does not mean they are bigots.

Sen. Richard Durbin is an idiot..

March 29, 2011 at 8:42 pm |

By the same "logic"

What bigotry?

If Blacks have serious problems, and Ku Klux Klansmen object to them, that does not mean they are bigots

March 29, 2011 at 10:37 pm |

BG

@ same "logic"

Look up the definition of bigotry. Now look up the definition of bias.

March 30, 2011 at 12:08 am |

Noah Webster

I looked up the definition of "dumb-ass", which turns out to be "BG"

March 30, 2011 at 12:45 am |

BG

@ Noah

Don't quit on those Rosetta Stone English lessons. It'll work out. I promise.

March 31, 2011 at 5:23 pm |

Bethe123

What anti-Muslim bigory?

If Islam has serious problems, and people object to it, that does not mean they are bigots.

Sen. Richard Durbin is an idiot..

March 29, 2011 at 8:41 pm |

Swami

I think these hearings are shameful McCarthiest witch hunts of non-Muslims. How dare they accuse all non-Muslims of these things.

March 29, 2011 at 8:11 pm |

Ron

I also think a committee needs to discuss and watch conservative Christianity in this country as well. They've killed and of course, justified it many times. They openly persecute others who are not like their religion be it Christian or non-Christian.
As far as I'm concerned, they have the same make up and personality as those they accuse of the Muslim faith.

March 29, 2011 at 5:21 pm |

Reality

Ron,

One difference as the Christian NT does not demand Christian domination of the world by any means or death to all infidels.

To eliminate both threats:

Saving 1.5 billion lost Muslims:
There never was and never will be any angels i.e. no Gabriel, no Islam.

Saving 2 billion lost Christians:
There was and never will be any bodily resurrections i.e. No Easter, no Christianity.

Saving 15.5 million Orthodox followers of Judaism:
Abraham and Moses never existed.

Added details upon request.

March 29, 2011 at 5:54 pm |

Richard Kreswich

I request no more details. Not that anyone reads your cut-and-paste drivel anyway.

The truth is in the heart of the beholder and it does not resemble us,it is a reflection of humility.in that no man can boast we as vessles of the living God must start surrendering to this truth that we may bring glory to God and be a part of the solution and not the problem ,which is leaning on to our own understanding and thinking we might have the slightest idea about how to solve someone elses problem when we cant see passed the the tree stand we built in front of our own

March 29, 2011 at 6:43 pm |

BG

@ Reality

Don't leave out any details. The devil's in the details, you know. (Just a metaphor, not a sermon...)

Thanks for all you do, Reality.

March 29, 2011 at 7:43 pm |

Richard Kreswich

You have a brown splotch on your nose, BG.

March 29, 2011 at 9:06 pm |

BG

That would be from "Islam, the peaceful religion" being rubbed in my face.

March 29, 2011 at 9:29 pm |

Reality

Necessary "thu-mping" because it is significantly better than koranic-driven terror and horror:

The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:

( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)

Are you ready?

Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.

Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.
Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him or her a copy and help save the world.

Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism.

March 29, 2011 at 11:24 pm |

Steve, the real one

Simply said, you know nothing about Christianity!

March 30, 2011 at 11:40 am |

Steve, the real one

@ Reality

One difference as the Christian NT does not demand Christian domination of the world by any means or death to all infidels.
To eliminate both threats:
Saving 2 billion lost Christians:
There was and never will be any bodily resurrections i.e. No Easter, no Christianity.
Saving 15.5 million Orthodox followers of Judaism:
Abraham and Moses never existed.
--------–
You have been spouting this for as long I as started on this blog. You were wrong then, you are wrong now, that is unless you have proof of your claims. Dont give me the "can't prove a negative" cop out, either and don't attempt to turn this around, just give me solid proof that there was no cross, no death, no Jesus! I will answer NONE of your questions until you answer mine with solid proof! That goes for any other atheists out there! Don't want to hear about science (human attempts to nullify the supernatural), don't want to hear about not able to prove negatives. Consider this as me holding your feet to the fire. Consider this me calling your bluff! Fully answer me and I will consider answering you! Time to step up or pipe down!

March 30, 2011 at 11:54 am |

PraiseTheLard

Steve, the real one – How about some proof for your fairy tales?

March 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm |

Steve, the real one

@PraiseTheLard
Steve, the real one – How about some proof for your fairy tales?
-----–
Sorry, not playing that game with you! I believe you read what I wrote so answer my question! Give me proof that Jesus did not exist, give me solid proof there was no cross! After I am satisfied with your answer, it will be my turn!, not one second before! Step up or pipe down! What's it gonna be?

Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably (most likely, presumably) never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.

Such startling propositions - the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years - have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity - until now.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called "Etz Hayim" ("Tree of Life" in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine doc-ument."

"The notion that the Bible is not literally true "is more or less settled and understood among most Conservative rabbis," observed David Wolpe, a rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and a contributor to "Etz Hayim." But some congregants, he said, "may not like the stark airing of it." Last Passover, in a sermon to 2,200 congregants at his synagogue, Rabbi Wolpe frankly said that "virtually every modern archaeologist" agrees "that the way the Bible describes the Exodus is not the way that it happened, if it happened at all." The rabbi offered what he called a "litany of disillusion" about the narrative, including contradictions, improbabilities, chronological lapses and the absence of corroborating evidence. In fact, he said, archaeologists digging in the Sinai have "found no trace of the tribes of Israel - not one shard of pottery."

March 30, 2011 at 12:25 pm |

Reality

For Steve, the Real One,

Part II-

It is called the Great Angelic Con:

Joe Smith had his Moroni.

Jehovah Witnesses have their Jesus /Michael the archangel, the first angelic being created by God;

Mohammed had his Gabriel (this "tin-kerbell" got around).

Jesus and his family had Michael, Gabriel, and Satan, the latter being a modern day dem-on of the de-mented.

The Abraham-Moses myths had their Angel of Death and other "no-namers" to do their dirty work or other assorted duties.

Contemporary biblical and religious scholars have relegated these "pretty wingie thingies" to the myth pile. We should do the same to include deleting all references to them in our religious operating manuals. Doing this will eliminate the prophet/profit/prophecy status of these founders and put them where they belong as simple humans just like the rest of us.

Some added references to "tink-erbells".

"Latter-day Saints also believe that Michael the Archangel was Adam (the first man) when he was mortal, and Gabriel lived on the earth as Noah."

Apparently hallu-cinations did not stop with Joe Smith.

newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm
"The belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity; pagans, like Menander and Plutarch (cf. Euseb., "Praep. Evang.", xii), and Neo-Platonists, like Plotinus, held it. It was also the belief of the Babylonians and As-syrians, as their monuments testify, for a figure of a guardian angel now in the British Museum once decorated an As-syrian palace, and might well serve for a modern representation; while Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, says: "He (Marduk) sent a tutelary deity (cherub) of grace to go at my side; in everything that I did, he made my work to succeed."

Catholic monks and Dark Age theologians also did their share of hallu-cinating:
"TUBUAS-A member of the group of angels who were removed from the ranks of officially recognized celestial hierarchy in 745 by a council in Rome under Pope Zachary. He was joined by Uriel, Adimus, Sabaoth, Simiel, and Raguel."
And tin-ker- bells go way, way back:

"In Zoroastrianism there are different angel like creatures. For example each person has a guardian angel called Fravashi. They patronize human being and other creatures and also manifest god’s energy. Also, the Amesha Spentas have often been regarded as angels, but they don't convey messages, but are rather emanations of Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord", God); they appear in an abstract fashion in the religious thought of Zarathustra and then later (during the Achaemenid period of Zoroastrianism) became personalized, associated with an aspect of the divine creation (fire, plants, water...)."

"The beginnings of the biblical belief in angels must be sought in very early folklore. The gods of the Hitti-tes and Canaanites had their supernatural messengers, and parallels to the Old Testament stories of angels are found in Near Eastern literature. "

"The 'Magic Papyri' contain many spells to secure just such help and protection of angels. From magic traditions arose the concept of the guardian angel. "

For added information see the review at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel

March 30, 2011 at 12:27 pm |

Reality

For Steve, the Real One,

Part III-

Saving Christians from the Big Resurrection Con:

From that famous passage: In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

Even now Catholic/Christian professors of theology are questioning the bodily resurrection of the simple, preacher man aka Jesus.

To wit;

From a major Catholic university's theology grad school white-board notes:

"Heaven is a Spirit state or spiritual reality of union with God in love, without earthly – earth bound distractions.
Jesus and Mary's bodies are therefore not in Heaven.

Most believe that it to mean that the personal spiritual self that survives death is in continuity with the self we were while living on earth as an embodied person.

Again, the physical Resurrection (meaning a resuscitated corpse returning to life), Ascension (of Jesus' crucified corpse), and Assumption (Mary's corpse) into heaven did not take place.

The Ascension symbolizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church.

Only Luke's Gospel records it. The Assumption ties Jesus' mission to Pentecost and missionary activity of Jesus' followers The Assumption has multiple layers of symbolism, some are related to Mary's special role as "Christ bearer" (theotokos). It does not seem fitting that Mary, the body of Jesus' Virgin-Mother (another biblically based symbol found in Luke 1) would be derived by worms upon her death. Mary's assumption also shows God's positive regard, not only for Christ's male body, but also for female bodies." "

"In three controversial Wednesday Audiences, Pope John Paul II pointed out that the essential characteristic of heaven, hell or purgatory is that they are states of being of a spirit (angel/demon) or human soul, rather than places, as commonly perceived and represented in human language. This language of place is, according to the Pope, inadequate to describe the realities involved, since it is tied to the temporal order in which this world and we exist. In this he is applying the philosophical categories used by the Church in her theology and saying what St. Thomas Aquinas said long before him."
http://eternal-word.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2HEAVN.HTM

The Vatican quickly embellished this story with a lot CYAP.

Of course, we all know that angels are really mythical "pretty, wingie, talking thingies".

With respect to rising from the dead, we also have this account:

o An added note: As per R.B. Stewart in his introduction to the recent book, The Resurrection of Jesus, Crossan and Wright in Dialogue,
o p.4
o "Reimarus (1774-1778) posits that Jesus became sidetracked by embracing a political position, sought to force God's hand and that he died alone deserted by his disciples. What began as a call for repentance ended up as a misguided attempt to usher in the earthly political kingdom of God. After Jesus' failure and death, his disciples stole his body and declared his resurrection in order to maintain their financial security and ensure themselves some standing."
o p.168. by Ted Peters:
1. "Even so, asking historical questions is our responsibility. Did Jesus really rise from the tomb? Is it necessary to have been raised from the tomb and to appear to his disciples in order to explain the rise of early church and the transcription of the bible? Crossan answers no, Wright answers, yes. "

o So where are the bones? As per Professor Crossan's analyses in his many books, the body of Jesus would have ended up in the mass graves of the crucified, eaten by wild dogs, with lime in a shallow grave, or under a pile of stones.

March 30, 2011 at 12:30 pm |

Steve, the real one

@ Reality,
1. You keep promising "one more time", yet it is anything but
2. You keep telling me I cannot use the Bible to prove the Bible, SO let's update the rules a little shall we? You cannot use liberal fake behind theologians (who already an anti-God agenda) as proof.
3. Hit the drawing board again and come back when you are better prepared!

March 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm |

PraiseTheLard

Steve-the Real One: I never said that Jesus never existed... he most likely did... I never said he wasn't crucified... he probably was... Now, as for the rest of the story... He was reputed to be the son of god... which god? Why is this god different from all the other gods? why is he the "real one" ?? Why is he not mythological, just as all the other gods were? Why was he not simply invented in order to control the minds and behavior of the gullible?

March 30, 2011 at 12:34 pm |

Steve, the real one

@ Reality,
A name less student whiteboard? That's your proof? Even your own help is using terms like "PROBABLY did not exist or PRESUMABLY did not exist. You have missed the mark, Reality. Where does it say ABSOULTELY NEVER DID EXIST? I want you to give me proof that Jesus did not exist. I did not ask about Moses, I asked you about Jesus! Parts 1,2, 3 = failure! Next!

March 30, 2011 at 12:41 pm |

Steve, the real one

PraiseTheLard
Steve-the Real One: I never said that Jesus never existed... he most likely did... I never said he wasn't crucified... he probably was... Now, as for the rest of the story... He was reputed to be the son of god... which god? Why is this god different from all the other gods? why is he the "real one" ?? Why is he not mythological, just as all the other gods were? Why was he not simply invented in order to control the minds and behavior of the gullible?
---------
1. This is what you said and when you said it:
Steve, the real one – How about some proof for your fairy tales? March 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm

2. now it's:

Steve-the Real One: I never said that Jesus never existed... he most likely did... I never said he wasn't crucified... he probably was... March 30, 2011 at 12:34 pm

What is it going to be Fairy tale, like you said? Or more like the 1st half of your second post? Why are you changing your story, now?
I will answer your 2nd half soon!

March 30, 2011 at 12:53 pm |

PraiseTheLard

The fairy tale part is when supernatural beings are brought into the story... gods?? angels??? really???

March 30, 2011 at 12:58 pm |

Steve, the real one

PraiseTheLard
The fairy tale part is when supernatural beings are brought into the story... gods?? angels??? really???
-----
angels? REALLY!! gods, not really! The one true God? REALLY!! Research the Roman torture device know as a cross, read what it did to a human body, how long folks, suffered on it and then tell me what mere man would "volunteer" for it! Let me know what you discover and I will address it. I will the tell you what happen even BEFORE the cross. I will also share with you the burden He bore while ON the cross! Lay your bias down for a few minutes, if you have the guts!!!

March 30, 2011 at 1:10 pm |

PraiseTheLard

Steve-the Real One: "angels? REALLY!! The one true God? REALLY!! "

Fairy tales!!! Why is your god more "real" than the thousands of others?

As for suffering... did the early Protestants (and other non-conformists) "volunteer" to be burned at the stake?

March 30, 2011 at 1:43 pm |

Steve, the real one

PraiseTheLard

Steve-the Real One: "angels? REALLY!! The one true God? REALLY!! "
Fairy tales!!! Why is your god more "real" than the thousands of others?
As for suffering... did the early Protestants (and other non-conformists) "volunteer" to be burned at the stake?
---------
1. other "'gods" created nothing! They don't exist and only serve to distract a soul from the one true God, Jehovah!
2. early protestant rather have died than to turn away from God. They death while honorable did not save on esoul. nor did anyone claim it did. Yet the death of one did provide the opportunity for salvation! The blood of one cleansed billions of believers from their sins.

You want to know why my god is NOT a fairy tale and why He is different from al other"gods". I will tell you why.

Who did Thor die for? Who did Allah die for? Did they even offer their only son as a sacrfice for sinful mankind? I know Allah did not because Allah has no sons! God (through Jesus Christ) DIED on a cross to bear and remove my sins! HE paid the penalty for us all! What other "god" did that? What other? THAT is why my God is different! that is why my God is NO fairy tale! All I had to do was believe to gain life! NOTHING else! What have other 'gods" provided? Once you figure that out, feel free to let me know!

March 30, 2011 at 4:16 pm |

Reality

For Steve the Real One,

As noted many times previously, Jesus did exist. It is the details that are embellished and "mythicized".

To wit:

March 30, 2011 at 5:08 pm |

Reality

To: Steve the Real One (we hope),

As noted many times, Jesus did exist. The details unfortunately were severely embellished and "mythicized".

From Professors Crossan and Watts' book, Who is Jesus.

"That Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, as the Creed states, is as certain as anything historical can ever be.

“ The Jewish historian, Josephus and the pagan historian Tacitus both agree that Jesus was executed by order of the Roman governor of Judea. And is very hard to imagine that Jesus' followers would have invented such a story unless it indeed happened.

“While the brute fact that of Jesus' death by crucifixion is historically certain, however, those detailed narratives in our present gospels are much more problematic. "

“My best historical reconstruction would be something like this. Jesus was arrested during the Passover festival, most likely in response to his action in the Temple. Those who were closest to him ran away for their own safety.

I do not presume that there were any high-level confrontations between Caiaphas and Pilate and Herod Antipas either about Jesus or with Jesus. No doubt they would have agreed before the festival that fast action was to be taken against any disturbance and that a few examples by crucifixion might be especially useful at the outset. And I doubt very much if Jewish police or Roman soldiers needed to go too far up the chain of command in handling a Galilean peasant like Jesus. It is hard for us to imagine the casual brutality with which Jesus was probably taken and executed. All those "last week" details in our gospels, as distinct from the brute facts just mentioned, are prophecy turned into history, rather than history remembered."

See also Professor Crossan's reviews of the existence of Jesus in his other books especially, The Historical Jesus and also Excavating Jesus (with Professor Jonathan Reed doing the archeology discussion) .

Other NT exegetes to include members of the Jesus Seminar have published similar books with appropriate supporting references.

Part of Crossan's The Historical Jesus has been published online at books.google.com/books.

There is also a search engine for this book on the right hand side of the opening page. e.g. Search Josephus

See also Wikipedia's review on the historical Jesus to include the Tacitus' reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.

From ask.com,

"One of the greatest historians of ancient Rome, Cornelius Tacitus is a primary source for much of what is known about life the first and second centuries after the life of Jesus. His most famous works, Histories and Annals, exist in fragmentary form, though many of his earlier writings were lost to time. Tacitus is known for being generally reliable (if somewhat biased toward what he saw as Roman immorality) and for having a uniquely direct (if not blunt) writing style.

3. Historical Jesus Studies, faithfutures.org/HJstudies.html,
– "an extensive and constantly expanding literature on historical research into the person and cultural context of Jesus of Nazareth"
4. Jesus Database, faithfutures.org/JDB/intro.html–"The JESUS DATABASE is an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus that have survived from the first three centuries of the Common Era. It includes both canonical and extra-canonical materials, and is not limited to the traditions found within the Christian New Testament."
5. Josephus on Jesus mtio.com/articles/bissar24.htm
6. The Jesus Seminar, mystae.com/restricted/reflections/messiah/seminar.html#Criteria
7. Writing the New Testament- mystae.com/restricted/reflections/messiah/testament.html
8. Health and Healing in the Land of Israel By Joe Zias
joezias.com/HealthHealingLandIsrael.htm
9. Economics in First Century Palestine, K.C. Hanson and D. E. Oakman, Palestine in the Time of Jesus, Fortress Press, 1998.
10. 7. The Gnostic Jesus
(Part One in a Two-Part Series on Ancient and Modern Gnosticism)
by Douglas Groothuis: equip.org/free/DG040-1.htm
11. The interpretation of the Bible in the Church, Pontifical Biblical Commission
Presented on March 18, 1994
ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PBCINTER.HTM#2
12. The Jesus Database- newer site:
wiki.faithfutures.org/index.php?t-itle=Jesus_Database
13. Jesus Database with the example of Supper and Eucharist:
faithfutures.org/JDB/jdb016.html
14. Josephus on Jesus by Paul Maier:
mtio.com/articles/bissar24.htm
15. The Journal of Higher Criticism with links to articles on the Historical Jesus:
mtio.com/articles/bissar24.htm
16. The Greek New Testament: laparola.net/greco/
17. Diseases in the Bible:
etd.unisa.ac.za/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-08022006-125807/unrestricted/02dissertation.pdf
18. Religion on Line (6000 articles on the history of religion, churches, theologies,
theologians, ethics, etc.
religion-online.org/
19. The Jesus Seminarians and their search for NT authenticity:
mystae.com/restricted/reflections/messiah/seminar.html#Criteria
20. The New Testament Gateway – Internet NT ntgateway.com/
21. Writing the New Testament- existing copies, oral tradition etc.
ntgateway.com/
22. The Search for the Historic Jesus by the Jesus Seminarians:
members.aol.com/DrSwiney/seminar.html
23. Jesus Decoded by Msgr. Francis J. Maniscalco (Da Vinci Code review)jesusdecoded.com/introduction.php
24. JD Crossan's scriptural references for his book the Historical Jesus separated into time periods: faithfutures.org/Jesus/Crossan1.rtf
25. JD Crossan's conclusions about the authencity of most of the NT based on the above plus the conclusions of other NT exegetes in the last 200 years:
faithfutures.org/Jesus/Crossan2.rtf
26. Common Sayings from Thomas's Gospel and the Q Gospel: faithfutures.org/Jesus/Crossan3.rtf
27. Early Jewish Writings- Josephus and his books by t-itle with the complete translated work in English :earlyjewishwritings.com/josephus.html
28. Luke and Josephus- was there a connection?
infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/lukeandjosephus.html
29. NT and beyond time line:
pbs.org/empires/peterandpaul/history/timeline/
30. St. Paul's Time line with discussion of important events:
harvardhouse.com/prophetictech/new/pauls_life.htm
31. See http://www.amazon.com for a list of JD Crossan's books and those of the other Jesus Seminarians: Reviews of said books are included and selected pages can now be viewed on Amazon. Some books can be found on-line at Google Books.
32. Father Edward Schillebeeckx's words of wisdom as found in his books.
33. The books of the following : Professors Marcus Borg, Paula Fredriksen, Elaine Pagels, Karen Armstrong and Bishop NT Wright.
34. Father Raymond Brown's An Introduction to the New Testament, Doubleday, NY, 1977, 878 pages, with Nihil obstat and Imprimatur.
35. Luke Timothy Johnson's book The Real Jesus

March 30, 2011 at 5:11 pm |

Steve (the real one)

@Reality
To: Steve the Real One (we hope),
As noted many times, Jesus did exist. The details unfortunately were severely embellished and "mythicized".
From Professors Crossan and Watts' book, Who is Jesus
----
It is really me, after a long absence. I had to get a way for a while because I was getting frustrated. I all good now. While i was gone, i was reading your stuff but not responding. The reason is I needed to be a better witness for the Lord. In order to do that I took a step back from this and spent a little more time with Him. I'm back! With time winding up, and teh lord to call His people home soon, I will not be engaging in all arguments. I will say what i feel lead to say. In short,

I know the way your present the lies from your two "theologians". I will state to you right now they are false teachers! Anyone who denies the divinity of Christ is false and a liar!! No other way to put it, so I won't! Jesus Christ IS Lord and will call for us (His people soon). In your current state, you will be found lacking! response if you care to be I have no time for the prove it game! Everyone will have to make their choice and that includes YOU! This life is too short and eternity too long to make the wrong one, Reality! I know you are a smart person, but yet spiritually you are dead and your smarts cannot awaken your spirit man. Only Christ can!

March 30, 2011 at 6:54 pm |

Reality

Why was said hearing needed as the following is all that needs to be said!!!

What instigated the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? And what motivates today's 24/7 mosque/imam-driven acts of terror and horror? The koran, Mohammed's book of death for all infidels and Muslim domination of the world by any means. Muslims must clean up this book removing said passages admitting that they are based on the Gabriel myth and therefore obviously the hallucinations and/or lies of Mohammed. Then we can talk about the safety and location of mosques and what is taught therein. Until then, no male Muslim can be trusted anytime or anywhere..................................

March 29, 2011 at 4:05 pm |

Reality

Why was said hearing needed as the following is all that needs to said!!!

What instigated the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? And what motivates today's 24/7 mosque/imam-driven acts of terror and horror? The koran, Mohammed's book of death for all infidels and Muslim domination of the world by any means. Muslims must clean up this book removing said passages admitting that they are based on the Gabriel myth and therefore obviously the hallucinations and/or lies of Mohammed. Then we can talk about the safety and location of mosques and what is taught therein. Until then, no male Muslim can be trusted anytime or anywhere..................................

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.